
Tough lineup decisions coming as Wild get closer to full health
By Amina El-Amin
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Nearly all of Grand Casino Arena s 18,000-some seats were empty on Thursday morning as the Wild practiced there. But the ice surface at Minnesota s home rink was packed, with a kind of family reunion of players back at practice after missing all or part of the season s first five weeks. The returnees included defensemen Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon, forwards Nick and Marcus Foligno, and goalie Filip Gustavsson. Faber and Gustavsson have not played at all this season after surgeries — Faber for a skull fracture and Gustavsson to repair an ailing hip. The Folignos have only seen the ice for a few games early in October before succumbing to injuries, and Spurgeon is out for the second time this season. Wild coach John Hynes does not expect Faber, Spurgeon or Gustavsson to play at home in Friday s game versus San Jose, nor in Saturday s game versus Tampa Bay. But all five are well on the road to recovery, and it led to a palpably good vibe on the rink. To have guys t